Stencil-cutting machine



(No Model.) 2 Shets-Sheet 2. J. A. HOPF 8v J. W. MUNSON.

STENCIL CUTTING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 22, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. I'IOFF AND JOHN MUNSON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

STENCIL-CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,841, dated December22, 1896. Application filed May 20, 1895. 1 Serial No. 549,942. (Nomodel.)

T0 to whom it may concern.-

I Be it known that we, J OHN A. Horn and J OHN W. MUNSON, citizens ofthe United States, residing at thecity of St. Louis, State of Missouri,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Stencil-CuttingMachines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view. Fig. 2is a longitu dinal vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailof the matrix-plates, showing the manner of mounting the same. Fig. aisa sectional view on line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an elevational View ofthe feed mechanism, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View of the meansfor operating the feed mechanism.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in stencilcuttingmachines; and it consists in the construction, arrangement, andcombination of the several parts of our improved machine, all as willhereinafter be described, and afterward pointed out in the claims. j

Inthe drawings, A indicates the frame, which is preferably mounted uponsuitable legs B.

The matrix-plates O are mounted in a skeleton wheel D, which is uponastud D, and are preferably in the shape of segments.

Conjoined to the wheel Dis a limb E, carrying yielding arms F, upon theouter ends of which are mounted the patrices F in line with the matricesin plates 0. These arms are secured to the hub portion by screws, one ofwhich, as f, passes through a hole, of larger diameter than the screw inthe arm, and into the hub, and the others, f, being arranged injuxtaposition tothe inner ends of the arms. I By this means the arms areadjustably mounted relative to' each other and to the hub. Thesepatrices are forced down by a plunger G, operated by an extension H 011a handle H, provided with. a removable extension H Extending rearwardlyfrom this arm is a spacing-finger H, which cooperates with teeth on aspacer-wheel I.

To revolve the wheel D and its associate parts, we arrange a pinion onthe lower end of the stud, which engages with a segment K, pivoted upona suitable bearing at the rear of the frame. This bearing, as shown, consists of a sleeve L, inserted in an opening of larger diameter in theframe A. A bindingbolt L holds the sleeve inan adjusted positionrelative to the frame A, and in this manner lost motion between thesegment and its pinion can be taken up. This adjustment could beaccomplished in other ways, but the construction shown is convenient andample, the onlypu rpose being to adjustably pivot the segment relativeto the pinion or vice versa.

Extending forwardly from the segment is an operating-handle M, whoseforward end is preferably provided with a pointer or indicator toindicate the symbol or character in line with the plunger, correspondingsymbols or characters being arranged in scale form at the front end ofthe machine.

. The plunger G, which operates the pa'trices, is formed with alaterally-disposed T-slot in its lower face, through which pass heads,ex-

tending upwardly from the patrices. When the handle M has been operatedand the indicator points to the proper symbol on the scale, the head onthe patrice of a corresponding symbol is in the T-slot of the plunger.Handle H is now operated and forces the patrice down through the sheetto be stenciled and matrix. A spring h returns the handle to itsoriginal position and the plunger withdraws from the patrice to itsnormal position. Handle M is now moved to the next symbol to bestenciled, and so on.

\Ve will now describe the mechanism for feeding the sheet or stripbeneath the plunger.

The arm H, which operates the plunger, extends beyond said plunger, andarranged in the path of this extension is a block N, formed with acam-face on its end, with which the arm H contacts, and through thismedium the block is forced to slide in its seat. Pivoted on a lateralextension at the other end of the block is a dog or detent 0, whose freeend engages teeth on a ratchet-wheel conjoined to the feed-wheel P. Aspring 0 is connected to one side of the pivot-point of dog 0 andperforms the dual function of normally keeping the free end of the dogin contact with the ratchet-wheel and at the same time returning theblock after actuation by the arm II. Vt hen the handle H is actuated tooperate the plunger, the arm H comes in contact with the cam-face of theblock N and forces the same to one side. This movement causes the dog torotate the ratchet-wheel, and feed-wheel P feeds the strip to bestenciled the proper distance across the machine before the plungercontacts with the strip. The block has not made its full movement andbears against the side of the arm, during which time the plungercompletes its stroke. Upon release of the handle, spring 72, returns itto its normal position, permitting spring 0' to bring the block inwardlyand causing the dog to ride over one or two teeth, as the case may be,depending upon how far the handle was brought forward, as a partialmovement of the handle will not operate the plunger its full stroke, butwill move the strip only a short distance to form an unstenciled space.

In order to relieve the strip of the feedwheels when it is desired toremove the strip, we arrange beneath said wheels, both positive, as P,and idle, as P, rollers Q, which are mounted in pivoted arms R, whoseinner ends rest against the lower face of a slide S, of differentthicknesses. IVhen slide S is pulled out, its greater thickness forcesthe arms R downwardly and the rollers Q away from the feed-rollers. hensaid slide is pushed in, the arms will rest against a thinner portion ofthe slide, and in order to elevate the rollers Q and cause the arms tofollow the varying thicknesses of the slide we arrange a spring betweenangular projections R of the arms. I11 this manner the strip is held orreleased, depending upon the position of slide S.

It is well known that in machines of this class the matrices will notgenerally keep in alinement with the patrices, and any slightdisarrangement will cause considerable trouble. In order to make thealinement of the matrices permanent, we first adjust the plates 0 in thewheel D by screws 0, which pass through holes in the wheel, of greaterdiameter than the screws, and in't'o the plates. I11 this manner theplates may be arranged loosely in position and alined with the patricesby operating the latter with the plunger. \Vhen the patrices are intheir depressed position, the screws 0 are tightened and the plate isthen in its proper position. This adjustment is continued until all theplates are adjusted, when the wheel D and its adjusted plates are takenout and the spaces between the edges of the plates and thesupporting-wheel are filled with some plastic material, such for instance as silicate of soda, which will set and firmly and positivelymaintain the plates on the wheel. Upon taking the wheel out of its bathit may be wiped to remove all surplus material. This we consider animportant feature of our invention, as the relation between the patricesand matrices is unvarying and constant.

\Ve are aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement,and combina-' tion of the several parts of our machine may be made andsubstituted for those herein shown and described without in the leastdeparting from the nature and principle of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a stencil-cutting machine, the combination with the frame, thematrix-wheel and its shaft, of a pinion on the shaft, a segment foroperating the pinion, a bearing-sleeve on which said segment is pivoted,working in a slot in the frame and having a shoulder engaging the frame,a clamping-bolt for said bearing-sleeve passing through the latter andthe slot in the frame, and adapted to adjustably secure the sleeve tothe frame, substan .tially as described.

2. The combination with the plunger-operating handle, of a slide-blockhaving thereon a cam-face adapted to be engaged by said handle tooperate said block, a dog on the slideblock, a feed-wheel which isoperated by the dog, and a spring for holding the dog in its properrelation to the feed-wheel, and returning the block; substantially asdescribed.

The combination with the feed-roller, of idle-rollers arrangedtherebeneath, arms in which said rollers are mounted, means for normallyholding said rollers in operative relation to the feed-roller, and aslide engaging said arms and adapted to move the latter with the rollersaway from the feed-roller, substantially as set forth.

4:. The combination with the feed-rollers, of rollers arrangedtherebeneath, pivoted arms in which said rollers are mounted,and aspring attached to both arms, for holding the lastnamed rollers in anoperative position; substantially as described.

5. In a stencil-cutting machine, the combination of the stationaryframe, a reciprocating plunger mounted in the frame, a lever mounted inthe frame for operating said plunger, a matrix, a rotary hub, a yieldingarm secured to said hub, means for moving said hub to bring said arm inthe path of movement of said plunger, a patrice carried by said arm,means carried by the arm adapted to be positively engaged by the plungerfor reciprocating the pat-rice, a feed mechanism, means for actuatingthe same comprising a spring-actuated block having a cam-face, and anextension on the lever for movin g the block, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a stencil-cutting machine, the combination of a stationary frame,a movable matrix, and movable patrice, a plunger mounted in said frame,a spacer moving with said patrice, a feed mechanism, comprising asliding signatures, in presence of two Witnesses, this block providedwith a cam-face, and feed- 9th day of March, 1895.

wheels, and a lever for operating the plunger 4 pivoted to said frame,having a spacing-finger ON 5 adapted to cooperate with saidspacer-wheel,

and a projection arranged to engage the block, Witnesses substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth. F. R. CORNWALL,

In testimony whereof We hereunto affix our HUGH K. WAGNER.

